Hitchens addresses Intelligent Design (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, October 19, 2012, 12:10 (4420 days ago) @ David Turell

MATT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R0wfGaEMoA&feature=youtube_gdata_player-~1:10:00-He never had much to say on that, but he takes a mighty swing here...-I hadn't cottoned onto the significance of 1:10:00. Thank you, David. I could have saved myself 45 minutes of hunting! I have now heard the relevant section, and all Hitchens says on the subject is: -"It's so complex it could only have been done by God. Thanks a lot....It's just a catch-up."-This is not a mighty swing or a reasoned argument, and I don't think he even uses the word design. David's post from last night is as rational a defence of ID as you will find. One wonders if Hitchens has really grasped the complexity of the living cell, and the silly sneer perhaps explains why "he never had much to say on that."-DAVID (in answer to Matt): Yes, in a way an argument from incredulity, but the complexity is incredulous.-The complexity is incredible (apologies for my pedantry). I agree. The complexity is such that I cannot believe in chance. But if one cannot believe in a non-created transient form of life and consciousness, how can one believe in a non-created, eternal and universal form of life and consciousness? Round and round we go!-DAVID: So why wait to make a decision?
DAVID: Obviously chance vs. intelligence are the two sides of the issue. Can you offer a third?-No, but that does not mean one has to take a decision. Neither my life nor my happiness nor my future nor my present nor the people I love nor the people I know nor the people I don't know are in any way dependent on my making a decision. I cannot force myself to believe something I don't believe. So why NOT wait to make a decision?